"There Stands Jackson Like A..." (class-shift combat resolution)

Modifiers include range (ineffective -2), charismatic leader attached +2 or within 6" +1, good leader attached +1, uncommanded -2, cover +1/+2, defending +1, square/column/cavalry match-ups from +3 to -3, attacking from flank or rear +3 and attacked from flank or rear -6. Each class has a performance ceiling it cannot be raised above, but there is no floor (Old Guard attacked in the flank can fight as Conscript Line).

If the only modifying that is allowed is by increasing or decreasing a whole classification level, we may not be so inclined to create phone books of modifiers.

Percentage dice determine a unit's revealed class and its performance level or win/no-win for each combat.

the first time a Crack Line unit faced combat, it casts percentage dice and gets a role of an 86

Each base class has a percentile table (1-5, 6-20, 21-50, 51-80, 81-95, 96-100) giving the class it will actually fight at, plus a ceiling; e.g. Crack Line rolling 86 becomes Grenadier. The roll is unmodified so leaders cannot be stacked on it, keeping both players unsure of mid-grade units.

Why not wait to determine the exact level of a unit until its first combat?

Classes (from Empire): Old Guard, Guard, Grenadier, Elite, Crack Line, Veteran Line, Conscript Line, Landwehr, Trained Militia, Untrained Militia; each has a probability distribution over performance levels.

from best to worse, Old Guard, Guard, Grenadier, Elite, Crack Line, Veteran Line, Conscript Line, Landwehr, Trained Militia, Untrained Militia.

Results take away CE points (or in a lopsided close action add 1 to the winner); a unit reaching zero CE is removed with no individual figure casualties.

If you go to zero combat effectiveness, the unit is removed from the table (no individual casting casualties are removed).

Each class has percentages for Heroic, Gallant, Admirable, Proper, Poor and Despicable (Old Guard 50/30/20/-/-/-). The difference in levels is read on a table with Firefight and Close Action columns, e.g. difference 2-3 in a firefight: high side -1 CE, low side -2 CE and back 6". An alternative 'absolute' form gives each class a per-combat-type chance of winning (Old Guard firefight 80%), with four outcomes from both win to neither wins.

Combat is resolved by each side casting its performance and then comparing the results. The number of levels difference is translated into results.

Firefight losers fall back 3", 6" or 12" or break at a 6-level difference; close-action losers go back 4" or 8" or break at 4+ levels. Bombardment outcomes can let artillery close the range by a quarter or half, or force infantry back 4".

the low unit (L) losing 2 points of combat effectiveness and being forced back 6".